Please keep speed down on Skyline Blvd, Oakland...

I'm a resident on Skyline Blvd. (East Bay/Oakland), near the Pinehurst Rd. intersection. I'm also a long-time rider, so my neighbors/friends have been complaining to me about bikes speeding on this road. Having kids and a dog and also walking/running/bicycling myself on Skyline, I see their point. Here are the facts:

- much of Skyline Blvd (East Bay) is residential--that means houses, kids, pedestrians, cars pulling out of driveways, etc.
- the speed limit is 25mph--slow, I know, but that's what's posted
- there are no sidewalks, so people have to walk/run/bicycle on Skyline, and it's a narrow road with blind, hairpin curves

Neighbors are pissed, for good reason. Many (not all) bikes fly through here (and cages too). A car pulls out, a child runs across the road... guess what happens? There are places to be a squid, but this isn't one of them. Why would anyone with half a brain ride fast (I'm talking over 40mph) through a residential neighborhood with children around? Makes no sense.

I know the Oakland Police have been asked to step up patrols. Others have requested putting up stop signs along Skyline. I've even heard a neighbor suggest pouring oil and sand on some of the curves. We need to police ourselves a bit or it's going to come to this. Thanks, all I ask is to slow down in the residential areas (when you see houses), and tell others you ride with too--please give us who live here a break.

DaveT said:

I've even heard a neighbor suggest pouring oil and sand on some of the curves.

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now THAT'S messed up... =Þ

but i won't argue with the rest of the post.

Yes, sand and oil mysteriously appearing in corners would not be good. Someone who was smoking in a car could be surprised by a sudden slide and accidently drop their cigarette onto some dry eucalyptus trees which would likely result in the formerly residential neighborhood no longer having many houses.

Best for everyone to chill a bit.

Gold

If you don't like motorcycles don't buy a house on a motorcycle road.

DaveT said:

I've even heard a neighbor suggest pouring oil and sand on some of the curves.

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i hope who ever said that/ does it should slide/ slip and crash in that exact location. cause thats just messed up

keep it civil,

Ridge Rider

I actually live off Joaquin Miller and travel that ridge daily. First off there is a leash law in Oakland. Put your dog on one! Second if your little tykes are running around on Skyline they need a leash too. Living in the hills does not mean you get to put restrictions on how people ride. That is part of living in a Tony neighborhood.
If your neighbors really feel it is an issue they need to speak with the city council or traffic division. Throwing hazardeous materials on the road is illegal and harmful to the enviroment.
If I happen to have an accident because of your neighbor he better have a damm good lawyer!

Skyline and Snake reporting here.

Dave T has valid points - there are sections of skyline that really arent suitable for riding at brisk pace.

You should have some words with your neighbor who suggested attempted murder by putting hazardous substances in the roadway. If there is a problem report it to the police. Vigilante justice is illegal and irresponsible. That's no different than me suggesting to play with fire in your neighborhood cuz I don't like your rich azzes living in my riding area.

Re: Ridge Rider

AllyCat said:

I actually live off Joaquin Miller and travel that ridge daily. First off there is a leash law in Oakland. Put your dog on one! Second if your little tykes are running around on Skyline they need a leash too. Living in the hills does not mean you get to put restrictions on how people ride. That is part of living in a Tony neighborhood.
If your neighbors really feel it is an issue they need to speak with the city council or traffic division. Throwing hazardeous materials on the road is illegal and harmful to the enviroment.
If I happen to have an accident because of your neighbor he better have a damm good lawyer!

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Coupla points:
- dogs run out of houses and yards, there are also deer on Skyline and it's a bitch getting a leash on them
- pedestrians walk along Skyline, including parents with children--it's a *residential neighborhood*, no different than, say, in Moraga, from the traffic and pedestrian legal point of view. If you've been on Skyline you'll notice there are no sidewalks.
- the only restriction on how people ride is the posted, legal speed limit and other traffic laws--ask Oakland Police if you don't believe me
- Tony neighborhood? I'll remember that if I ever sell my house
- they have spoken to the City Council, OPD, traffic, etc. I've seen more police up here on the weekends and after work...
- I totally agree throwing materials on the road is a dick move, and I told this particular person that--like I said, I ride and bicycle up here too. But as I also said, neighbors are pissed. I don't control them.

It's a really simple thing to roll off the throttle when you see a 25mph sign, or ride pass houses. Safer for everyone, residents won't get angry, riders won't get hurt, and all will be cool. That's all. Thanks.

The guy didn't say he advocated putting oil and sand on the road, he just heard his neighbors mention it. Give the guy a break. All he's doing is asking people to take it slow through residential areas and he's got a point.

sloasnot said:

The guy didn't say he advocated putting oil and sand on the road, he just heard his neighbors mention it. Give the guy a break. All he's doing is asking people to take it slow through residential areas and he's got a point.

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Ye, but you have to remember... when you have a double digit (and not a high one at that) IQ, it's a complete chore to read, and comprehend at the same time

It is not about understanding what was written. There have been problems in the Oakland Hills with bikes for years. The hill people want there to be no noise no bikes no cars. Move to Lafayette,Moraga,or Danville in a secure safe place for your kids and dogs and your SUV 's that park all over Skyline. I don't have an issue with the slowing down point at all....... It is the way it was presented.

As a resident and rider of that area I feel obliged to chime in here. Dave T you raise valid points and I for one usually slow it down around the driveways for everyones safety (I have no desire to be someone's hood ornament) but I too have been guilty of too brisk a pace at times and will step up my efforts at self restraint.

As to your neighbor's suggestion, I might like to share a little story from about 15 years back. A friend of mine was riding near tilden and some resident was hosing down the street on purpose in front of his house! When riders or cars came by at what he thought was too fast a speed he aimed the hose directly at the "offending party". He almost killed my friend and my friend won a very lucrative lawsuit. He could no longer live in the neighborhood he thought he was protecting.

In the words of Rodney King "can't we all just get along?"

FWI Skyline has been a local racetrack for generations local drivers(not just motorcycles). So be certain to look at your neighboors as potential hot rodders as well.

My .02

Pailfayce said:

Vigilante justice is illegal and irresponsible.

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Guess what? So is speeding on a residential road. I imagine some f the folks on skyline are clocking double the posted speed. Given the likliness of someone pulling out of a driveway on a blind hairpin, it's also dangerous.

Everyone knows the laptimes only count on Grizzly, stop sign to stop sign, not Skyline. Don't worry, they are just doing warm up runs before they hit the stop sign and grid up.

That's right, and you have a pit stop at the wall to change your tires

AllyCat said:

It is not about understanding what was written. There have been problems in the Oakland Hills with bikes for years. The hill people want there to be no noise no bikes no cars. Move to Lafayette,Moraga,or Danville in a secure safe place for your kids and dogs and your SUV 's that park all over Skyline. I don't have an issue with the slowing down point at all....... It is the way it was presented.

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I thought he presented it very politely. And he has a very valid point. If hundreds of motorcycles came past my house every weekend at twice the speed limit, I'd be irate. I think this guy demonstrated a lot of restraint. He wasn't threatening to put sand in the road. He was warning us that some other people have become that desperate. He just wants us to observe the speed limit (or close to it) while riding through his neighborhood. I think it's a reasonable request.

I agree OFG..
I think the request was both civil and well done. I understand exactly where it's coming from and why. It is also a nice heads up on civic actions that are going forward.

Me ...I fell on purposely layed oil in high school. We buzzed tha neighbor hoods behind the school doing wheelies, speeding etc.
Some sie fellow decided to drop oil in the corner right behind the football field. I hit it and high sided. Didn't get anything , but another foggy brain bruise, but it could have been worse. ..and I was

Who ever did it is still at the top of my shit list..but I was a little shit too.

I hope that you can see through the feelings of some one telling you to slow down to see the valid reason behind it.